SEigneur Morosini General of the Venetian Army; after having taken St. Maure with the Auxiliary Troops of the Pope: The Great Duke of Tuscany and those of Malta, was oblig'd to rest his Soldiers some dayes: In the mean time he gave necessary Orders for the Reparation of the Fortifications of the Place, but 'twas so much Damnified by the Cannon and the Bombs, which had ruin'd the greatest part of the Houses, that 'twas impossible to advance the Work in so little time as 'twas hoped for. He was therefore forc'd to part the Work between the Soldiers and the Galley-slaves, that it might be the sooner finished, having a reso­lution not to end the Campaign without some considerable Action; and that it much concern'd him not to part from St. Maure, till it was in a good condition, in case the Turks should have any design to Attaque it, as they had given out. He like­wise commanded they should carry in several Mortar-pieces, together with a great quantity of Bombs, and all sorts of Provisions, as well of War as others, if the place might have occasion, to make a Vigorous Defence.

The 22 of August Seigneur Girolomo Cornaro Providor General of the Sea arrived at St. Maure, and Seigneur Morosini having let him see the necessity of finishing those Works he had already begun, prepared for his departure upon a new Expedition he had but newly resolv'd upon. But after having made a general re-view of his Troops, and chose out those that should enter into the Garrison of St. Maure, there remain'd but two thousand Venetian Troops that were fit to March, by reason of the Sickness and Fatigues which had killed abundance of his men. He therefore sent the Collonel Angelo of Decima into the Neighbourhood to Assemble as many Greeks together as possible, the better to Fortifie his Army, and to put him in a condition to Attaque Prevesa, follow­ing the Resolution he had taken, and which he had not 'till then declared. He learn'd al­most at the same time that the Turks had caus'd five hundred men to enter into the place, and that they had got together a number of Troops to form a Body, which was En­camped under the Cannon of the Town, and was well Entrenched. This advice did not at all hinder the General Morosini to think of means for the execution of his De­signs, how difficult soever the Enterprise seem'd, with that small number of Troops he had Ship'd off.

He set sail with a part of his Army, and Anchored in the Port of Pétala; there to hear news of Collonel Angelo, who was already advanced within 26 Miles of St. [Page 2] Maure; and upon the advice he received, he drew towards the Port of Dragamette, where a landing might be made without any difficulty.

The 10th. of September he Embarked his Troops, the Army consisting of 2000 Vene­tians, about 1000 Auxiliaries of the Pope; the Duke of Tuscany, and those of Malta, and 15 or 1600 Greeks.

These Troops being advanced in the plain Country, instantly charged some Turkish Squadrons which were posted in different places for the Guard of the passages, who immediately retir'd upon the approach of the Christians. One Party of these Squa­drons consisted of the Troops which the Infidels had Assembled after the taking of St. Maure, and who had Encamped about Prevesa; Saban Bassa Governour of the place had sent them to observe the motions of the Christian Army. Being made believe after that Action which they came from doing, they could have no design on Prevesa, he was therefore gone out, and put himself at the head of his Troops to harrass and surprise it.

The Christians entred into four or five Villages of the Turks, which they burnt, after having made several Slaves, and ravaged the Countrey for 4 or 5 days space, they then re-embarked at the Port of Petalla; the General in the mean time, was with his Galleys within sight of Patras, and Lepanto, to amuse the Turks, and to draw them to that side, upon the hopes that they might more easily Charge the Venetian Troops, while they were dispersed in the Plain Country.

The 15th. they came to the part of Demata. The 17th. they called a Council, where 'twas resolv'd to Attaque Prevesa, because without the Conquest of that Place, St. Maure being but newly reduced to the obedience of the Republique, might be readily Besieged by the Infidells.

The Fortress of St. Maure is within twelve Leagues of the entrance of the Golph of Arta, by the Ancients called the Golph of Ambracia: The City of Arta is Scituate on the extremity of this Golph, which is about 25 Miles in compass, being able to contain a great number of Ships; at the entrance of the Golph, on the West side, stands the Fortress of Prevesa, upon the ruines of the Ancient Nicopolis, built by Augustus in me­mory of a Victory he gain'd against Mark Anthony; the place is less than St. Maure, but the Scituation is more advantagious, commanding the entrance of the Golph, and those that are Masters of it are also of a considerable Trade which is at Arta

Seigneur Morosini taking the Resolutions of the Councel of War, caused five Gallies and six Gallyasses with Order to approach near the Castles to a place called Gomenizze, which are almost within sight of Previsa if possible, to oblige the Turks to seperate their Forces, and to force back those Troops which they had drawn toge­ther to Fortifie the Body which lay Encamped under the favour of the Cannon of the Town.

These stratagems had all the success the General proposed; Saban Bassa believing the Venetians durst not hazard the Siege of Prevesa, Attaqued the Castles, and sent back thither all the Troops he had already drawn, and the greatest part of those that lay round Prevesa, thus perswading himself he should ruine the Designs of the Ge­nerals: The Turks the more to Insult over the Christians, and to let them know they were sensible of their Designs, caused a general Salute of all their Cannon, with other demonstrations of joy, when they were received into the Castles.

The 20th. the Army parted from Demata, and arrived about nine in the Evening at the entrance of the Golph of Arta, where they Anchor'd. The 21st. the Captain Manetta with 24 Barks and some Brigandines Armed, entred in the Golph of Prevesa, and there landed with part of the Troops; in the mean time the Turks discharged eight pieces of Cannon and aboat 200 Musquets, though not a man was wounded: The Gallies that were Anchor'd over against an Eminence called the Hill of Mahomed Effendi, advanced about the dawning of the day within Musquet shot of the place, to make a Diversion, and to facilitate the Landing of those part of the Troops that were already by means of Galliots past an Arm of the Sea about a Mile and half over: In mean while the Gallies made a continual Firing in their turns, which hindred the Turks from coming near the Shoar.

In effect the Infidels bel [...]eving the Christians would put their Troops ashoar on this place, Fired their whole Cannon and Musquets with much Confusion, and little Da­mage [Page 3]to the Christians. The Troops being thus landed without any Loss began to ad­vance nigh the place under the Command of General Strasoldo.

The Turks that were commanded to hinder their Landing, having perceived the Fault they had committed, detached 500. Spahies, who came full speed to Charge the Christians before they had finished their Landing, but being already in Order of Battel, and vigorously Firing upon the Turks, they killed and wounded a conside­rable number, the others, without any further Dispute, betook themselves to Flight, and retir'd in so great Disorder, that the most part of them could not enter the Town, the Christians immediarely advanced without any further hindrance, seized upon the Town, and posted themselves upon the Hill of Mahomet Effendi, which commanded the City within Musquet shot.

The 21. the Generalissimo having made the Gallies and Galliots approach near Pre­vesa, sent to summon the Turks to deliver up the Place, threatning them to give no Quarter if they attended the last extremity. Saba Rassa Governour, that was parted to put himself at the head of 4000. Men, to observe the motions of the Chri­stians, was not yet got in; but the besieged hoped his Return in three or four days, and that he would bring Troops enough to raise the Siege: So the Officer that com­manded in his absence would not receive the General's Letter, and order'd to shoot him that brought it; mean time Signiour Morosini caused two Cannons, and two Mortar pieces to be landed.

The 22. he landed as many more Cannon and Mortar pieces, and accompanied with the Nobless of his Galley, visited the Posts, order'd the Attacques, and plac'd the Cannons, and the Mortars upon the Batteries.

The 23. was more than 300. Bombs thrown, which beat down many Houses, and set fire to several Quarters, and dismounted several Pieces of the Enemies Can­non, the Artilery of the place was in a very ill condition, and did no effect, the Besiegers fired with so much success against their Batteries, that there was left but one piece of Cannon that was in a condition to serve them. That day there was but one Souldier kill'd, and five wounded.

The 24. Seigniour Morosini visited the Works, and the Batteries, and gave order for the making a Descent into the Ditch, where he immediately made a Lodg­ment,

The 25. Twenty Turks that night got out of the Town, by several Floren­tines which they found asleep, they killed one, took another Prisoner, and woun­ded a third.

The 26. the Breach was considerable, and the Enemies made very little fire with their Musquets.

The 27. the Works advanced with so much Success, that on the morrow the 28. they made a Lodgment in the Ditch. The Sieur Bachili, who commanded a Party of the Troops of Malta, was killed with a Musquet Shot, the same day the Mine was thought fit to be ready to play, and Orders were given to go to the Assault, in case the Turks should obstinately endeavour the Defence of the Place.

The 29 the Feast of St. Michael, they put out the White Flag, and demanded to capitulate, sending six of theirs to propose Articles, and the Governour sent Hosta­ges five Gentlemen.

The Turks demanded that He would agree with them, on the same Capitulations as he had done with those of St. Maure; but he declared he would make no Con­ditions with them, otherwise than that Thirty of the most considerable of them, should go out of the Town with Arms, and Baggage, and the rest should go with­out Arms, and that they should carry nothing but what they ought, and that all the Christian Slaves should be set at Liberty. The Turks were obliged to submit to these Conditions.

The 30. they departed out to the number of 200. Men by the Sea-Gate, and were thence conveyed by certain Greek Barks within four Miles of Arta.

The Generalissimo Morosini caused 20. Malteses, 30. Venetians, 6. Souldiers of the Troops of the Pope, and 10. of the Florentines, to enter the Town, who had order put guards to the two Ports, and the several Avenues, to hinder the Pillage, and for the Conservation of the Magazin. He ordered also at the same time the Standard [Page 4]of St. Mark to be put up, and those of the Turk to be taken down, which were carried to the General's Galley.

There was found more than 46. Pieces of Cannon in the place, eighteen of which were Brass, and at 50. pound Ball, a quantity of Musquets, 500. Quintals of Powder, Bullets, and all sort of Ptovision in abundance, and about 1200. Inhabitants in the Place.

The Republick, by this Conquest, remains in Possession of the Golph, and all the Places on that Coast: And the Turks in loosing that Fortress, have lost one 100000. Crowns a year, which they drew from the Fishing on the Coast. The Sieur Grimano Patriarch d' Aquilie, and heretofore General of the Pope's Gallies, having some time since in vain attacqued it without any Success:

During this Progress of the Venetian Army, under the Conduct of the General the Sieur Alassandro Molino Captain extraordinary of the Ships, hearing that the Captain Bassa, after having several times avoided the Rencounter of the Venetian Ar­my, was retired in the Port of Chio, resolved to go there to fight him.

He sailed that way with six Ships, and was no sooner in the mouth of the Chanel, but he discovered a Galley, which the Turks had left to observe the Motion of the Venetians. This Galley, after having given several Shot, which served as a Sign to the Bassa, retired with all possible speed; and at the same time, the other Gallies that were at the mouth of the Chanal, entred in the Port of Chio, the Venetians fol­lowing them, and the 20. they anchor'd at the Mouth of the Port: Having in the sight of the Enemies Army, taken a Saick loaded with Wood from Constantinople, the Wind proving contrary that day, hindred the Ships from coming nearer the Land.

The 21. the Sieur Molino, having put his Ships in form of a Half Moon, and posting himself in the Head of them, advanced under the Cannon of the Castle, from whence they fired several upon him; but that did not hinder him at all from giving a whole Broad-side upon the Castle, and the other Vessels doing the like: The Turks answer­ed with the Cannon from the Castle; and likewise from a little Fort newly built by the Sea side, since the Damage received from the French Squadron, under the Com­mand of Monsieur du Quesne.

The Turkish Gallies, to the number of 16. together with three Ships, stirred not in the Action, waiting only a fair opportunity of Retiring without Fighting. The Venetian Ships remained at the Entry of the Port, in the same Posts they had taken, and to shut up the Passage.

The 21. and 22. at night, the Sieur Molino detached the Captain Bassagnani, with a Ship to recover the Port, which he found would be very difficult to assault, because of the new Fortifications the Turks had made. He was therefore resolved to cast up several Batteries of Bombs ashoar, to incommode the Enemies, and to oblige them to aban­don the Port. The Sieur Delkino Captain Ordinary, advanced with the Jupiter thundring, with two other Ships, firing his Cannon upon the new Fort the whole day, but without doing much Damage; 'twas found impossible to land the Cannon, and therefore contented themselves to advance four great Barks with Mortars, to throw the Bombs against the Gallies.

In the mean time, the Sieur Molino giving Orders to make ready the Batteries, perceived towards the beginning of the Night, eight Gallies drawing out of the Port, and with all speed making towards the Coast of Rhodes, the Venetians immediately weighed Anchor to follow them, vigorously firing upon them, but the Wind falling, they could not follow them further; mean while the other Gallies got out of the Port, making a favourable use of the calm, to follow the others. 'Tis reported that afterwards that 3. of those Gallies were sunk by the Shot they had received, that the others were in a very ill condition, and that the Town and Castle of Chio, were very considerably damaged.